DEER ISLE — Rep. Walter Kumiega (D-Deer Isle) has announced his candidacy for the Maine Senate in District 7 (most of Hancock County).

Kumiega has been a member for the Maine House for the past eight years. He would replace Sen. Brian Langley, whose term expires this year.

If elected to the Senate, Kumiega would continue to chair the Marine Resources Committee, a task vital to Hancock County. Kumiega also would seek to be the legislative commissioner to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

“In my eight years in the Legislature, I have learned how important it is for Democrats, Republicans and independents to work together to create better opportunities for the people we represent,” Kumiega said. “Whether it is funding for education, health care, fisheries management, affordable housing, overcoming chronic poverty or any of the other problems we face, we need real leadership. I have demonstrated my commitment to working across the aisle to make real progress.

“Kids in Aurora should receive educational opportunities as good as kids in Bar Harbor, and families everywhere need a path out of poverty with job training and career counseling so they can move off of dependence on government assistance and into a sustainable, financially stable life.”